A few squad players definitely need a game, so i suggest the following will start. Sullivan Evina Cort Waggy Russell (if fit) Pritchard Hayes It then gets tricky to predict the team or formation. Euell may start (hopefully not up front) I'd keep BWP on the bench and give Kermit's ankle an extra week to recover. Evina could play LB or LM (as Hogan isn't available) Waggy could play RM, LM or even up front with Hayes Hughes could play CM or RB or not at all. Pritchard coud play CM, RM, LM or as part of a front 3 Do any youngsters deserve a game, e.g. Harriott at LM? Ben Davisson is 20 now, so surely it's now or never for him. Could Jordan Cousins play at RB? Smith will probably be on the bench, I can't see him playing with Hayes. A chance for Popo perhaps?
I agree with all those. I would play them all and Benson too is still with us. I think BWP should be protected and Kermit too, even if fit. As for the rest, just too many possible permutations to compute. How many of us guessed CP's starting team against Huddersfield and that was a vastly less complicated selection. I think this is a winnable match even with a weakened team and we could have a money-spinning match next round. With our 8-point lead over third in the table I think management won't want to throw this one away so I think the rest of the team will be made up with first-choicers, as will most of the bench. The only way any youngsters (Smith, Davisson, Warren or Harriott) will get a kick is if we are two up with less than ten minutes to play.
I'd like to see... Sullivan Warren-Taylor-Morrison-Evina Wagstaff-Pritchard-Russel-Harriott Smith-Benson Hamer-Cort-Cousins-Davisson-Euell-Hayes-Popo Doubt Benson/Warren/Harriott will figure though.
Sullivan Cousins Cort Morrison Evina Waggy Pritchard Russell Harriott Smith Hayes On the bench include Sho-Silva Warren 5 others
Now that Benson's move to Swindon has been blocked by the FA, perhaps he'll play on Saturday. He would certainly have something to prove, and a good performance would help him get another club in January or move him up the pecking order here.
Benson should play whenever BWP doesn't. He's our only other reliable goalscorer. And if the club want to get a significant fee for him (say £100,000 or more) in the window he needs to show what he can do in competitive matches.
Agreed, now it's fallen through I'd pick Benson. Would be surprised not to see Harriott, though, WWOCB... not sure if we have any other left-sided player who'll be fit/available? Suppose Pritchard could play there.. Ha! What a wonderful season this is where we have people on the bench we want to see more of!!
That team would probably lose or draw. Not because the players are that much inferior but because it is a "scratch" team that has never played together. Carlisle are a good team despite their awful first half here five weeks ago. Normally we would say that a draw is the last thing we want, especially with a midweek winter replay in Carlisle (which I understand is somewhere near Greenland). But our reserves are in need of competitive matches so if we omitted all the first team squad for a replay it wouldn't be the end of the world. After all, if Premiership managers can "forfeit" cup matches so can we. However, given we have no midweek matches and our imminent fixtures do not look too intimidating, I think the management will want to win this one at the Valley and hope for either a money-spinning tie next round or a soft draw at the Valley. So I expect them to put out a strong team, protecting only BWP, Kermit, and Green, and giving Cort, Evina and Benson a chance to show what they can do. I expect to see: Hamer (or Sullivan) Solly, Cort, Morrison (or Taylor), Wiggins Waggy, Russell (if fit, otherwise Hughes), Hollands, Evina Benson, Hayes Subs: Hughes (if he doesn't start), Pritchard, Taylor (or Morrison), Sullivan (or Hamer), Euell, Smith, and one (or two) youngsters who would only get a kick once the final result (win or lose) is inevitable (maybe Cousins and Davisson). The great thing is, I look at the current League table and I don't really care! So long as those playing give a good account of themselves and we pick up minimal knocks.
I really want to be in the hat for the 3rd round so would like to see a strong side. Sulli Solly:Cort Taylor(capt) Evina: Waggyritchard:Warren:Ephraim: Benson:Hayes. Subs Pope, Cousins,Morrison, Hollands, Green, Smith, Popo No Euell- Exeter was the end of the road. And no Harriott, because he doesn't seem to take on defenders any more. I wonder whether it's been coached out of him?
I'm of the same mind, eddie. It would be nice to get a full house here at The Valley for a visiting Prem side, or to bank a couple of hundred thousand from an away tie at Old Trafford or The Emirates but as long as we get out of this God-forsaken wilderness of a league, nothing much else matters to me this season.
I want to win the game, but I also want to play a few of the reserves, as this is an ideal opportunity to give them proper match practice, and with injuries and suspensions, I wouldn't want to being in people who haven't played for months. It would also be nice to play one or two youngsters, as one or two have never had a decent chance in the 1st team and deserve the chance to prove themselves at The Valley in front of a reasonable crowd. Can't we make this game 15 a side
Ephraim is not eligible to play. Harriott has scored two hat-tricks in his last three games so he must be doing something right. But he is only 17. No need to push him too fast, he is developing nicely. The other thing is, if Harriott is given chances before Davisson who is 18 months older, you have to ask what Davisson is doing on the payrole. Actually I suspect Davisson is the more ready to play senior football at present, even if not the better longer-term prospect.
